Playing card receiving, holding, and displaying device



Nov. 215, i952 J. J. HlcKr-:Y 2,619,350

PLAYING CARD RECEIVING, HOLDING, AND DISPLAYING DEVICE Filed July 2o, 1949 2 SHEETS- SHEET 1 /M/f/vro JOHN J. ,LJ/cker Nov. 25, 1952 J. J. HlcKEY 2,619,350

PLAYING CARD RECEIVING, HOLDING, AND DISPLAYING DEVICE Filed July 2o, 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Patented Nov. 25, 1952 UNITED STATES RTENT OFFICE PLAYING CARD RECEIVING, HOLDING, AND DISPLAYING DEVICE John J. Hickey, Bellcvilie, N. J.

Application July 20, 1949, Serial No. 105,687

Claims.

rihis invention relates to a receiving, holding, and displaying device for playing games with playing cards.

It is an object of the instant invention to provide a device for games employing playing cards which will lighten the task of both the dealer and the several players.

A further object is to provide a device that will virtually abate disurbances emanating from the lurching of passenger carrying vehicles when card gaines are played on airplanes, motor busses, and railroad cars.

Another object is to conserve the space usually required for card games.

Still another object is to .provide a means whereby the disorderly laying down o1" a large mass of shifting and elusive cards on a table is avoided. l

It is also an object of the instant invention to provide a device adapted to the playing of new card games.

An additional object is to provide a device whereby the same cards taken in different order can be used by a larger number of players than heretofore possible.

It is moreover an object of the instant invention to provide a practical means for playing card games on beaches, lawns, porches, rooms having open windows, and decks of moving steamships despite unavoidable strong winds.

Other objects of the instant invention will become apparent in the course of the following specification.

In the accomplishment of these objectives, the receiving, holding, and displaying device is made in three embodiments. In the rst embodiment, the device is constituted of card holders spaced parallel between parallel end members which divides the top of the box into longitudinal slots for the insertion of the playing cards in vertical position. Guides attached to the top of each card holder in spaced parallel transverse arrangement provide a means for overlapping the cards in spaced transverse rows when inserted in the slots for the conservation of space. A roller on the back of each card holder aids in maintaining the cards releasably upright in the slots. Provision for dealing a face down or concealed card to each of the players is also furnished.

In the second embodiment of the device, the transverse spaced parallel rows of guides previously mentioned for the iirst embodiment are replaced with pins while alternate transverse rows into which the top surface portions of the holders are dividedby the pins are color coded 2 to facilitate the releasable insertion of the playing cards against the pins in overlapping transverse rows.

In the third embodiment of the device, the top surfaces of the spaced parallel longitudinal card holders are divided into transverse rows by transverse rods spaced parallel from each other sufficiently to permit the display of the entire card rather than the overlapping arrangement of the rst two embodiments. The playing cards are maintained in vertical position between the holders by weighted U-shaped supports. As in the case of the first two embodiments, provision is made in the iront of the display box at the bottom for the releasable insertion of any face down or concealed cards dealt to the players.

The invention will appear more clearly from the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and showing by Way of example the preferred embodiments of the device.

In the drawings:

Figures 1 through 3 show the first embodiment of the device constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention and in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the device;

Figure 2 is a front View of the device shown in Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a sectional view along 3 3y of Figure l but on an enlarged scale.

Figures l and 5 show the second embodiment of the device and in which;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary plan View of the top of the device; and

Figure 5 is a sectional view along 5 5 of Figure 4, and enlarged.

Figures 6 through 8 show the third embodiment of the device and in which;

Figure 6 is a top plan View of the device for maintaining the cards vertically in full view;

Figure 7 is a front View of the device shown in Figure 6; and

Figure 8 is a sectional View along 8-8 of Figure '7, likewise enlarged.

Referring now in greater detail to the rst embodiment of the device shown in Figures l, 2, and 3 where like reference numerals indicate like parts, reference numeral l indicates the small and light weight receiving, holding. and displaying device.

The device I0 is constituted of the end members Il and l2 of any suitable material spaced parallel from each other by ve spaced parallel and similar card holders I3. Both the end members and holders are made of any suitable 3 material and are attached in any known manner. This construction provides a series of five spaced parallel longitudinal slots which are designated by the letters A, B, 0, D, and E in Figure 1 and the width of which is suiiicient for the insertion of one or more of the known playing cards.

Each card holder I3 is formed with the vertical member I5, the upper horizontal member I 4 attached at the top of the vertical member I5 or formed integral therewith and extending forwardly thereof (Fig. l) at an angle of approximately 90 thereto, and the lower horizontal member I6 secured at the bottom of the vertical member I5 and extending rearwardly therefrom. By making each vertical member I5 about three and one-half inches high and with the upper horizontal members I4 in the same plane, about one inch of the upper portions of the cards when inserted in the lettered slots will be exposed. By making the upper members I4 about one inch wide, the spacing between the slots provides the visibility needed to display the dealt hands of cards.

On the back of each vertical member I5 is a roller I'I (Figs. 2 and 3) made of wood, metal, or plastic material and formed hollow. Each roller I'I is supported in a horizontal position by a rod I8 of metal or the like passed through the center of the roller I'I, the ends of the rod I'I being formed at a right angle to the center line of the rod and attached to the inner surface of the card holder adjacent the end members in a known manner. Of course, the roller II may be in one segment or in two or more segments and part of the weight of each segment is borne by the rod while the remainder exerts a slight pressure against the dealt card and the vertical member I5 of the holder I3.

The upper horizontal members I4 actually forming the platform of the device IU are further divided into iive transverse rows designated by the numerals 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, in Figure 1 by the inverted Leshaped brackets I9 which have a base portion 29 integrally formed with a stein for attaching to the upper horizontal members I4 of the holders I3 using any suitable fasteners, the brackets being in spaced transverse arrangement as shown and separated by a space less than the width of the cards. As will be noted in Figure l, the turned portions 2| of the stems of the brackets I9 protrude over the lettered transverse slots to maintain the cards in aligned transverse rows and overlapping each other as later shown.

At the front of the device I0 (Fig. 2) is a series of brackets 22 of L-shape formation attached in any known manner to the outer surface of the front or most forward card holder I3. It will be noted that the vertical edges or stems of the brackets 22 are aligned with the transverse rows of stems of the brackets I9 to facilitate dealing the face down or concealed card to the proper player. Below the brackets 22 is a horizontal platform 23 disposed between the end members II and I2 and which may extend rearwardly at least for a distance less than the length of a card. Along the inner edge of the platform a stop 24 may be attached so that the cards are never lost inside the device when the dealer in serving the turned down cards rests one edge on the bottom of the turned portion of one bracket 22 with the opposite edge on the platform 23. I

To set the playing card receiving, holding, and

displaying device I 0 in playing position on sandy beaches or other ground surfaces, a rod 25 (Fig. 2) or pointed wooden stake may be utilized. To releasably attach the top of the stake to the box I0, a strap 28 is attached to the outer surface portion of the most central card holder I3, at the bottom and about at the center, so that the weight of the box I0 is equally distributed. Such construction has been found to interfere in no wise with the releasable insertion of the cards into the holders. Of course, ordinary clamps may be used to attach the box II) to tables, platforms, or shelves while leather straps may be used to attach the box to the seats in passenger carrying vehicles.

The operation with the rst embodiment of the display box I shown in Figures l, 2, and 3 follows:

It is to be understood that the use of the device I0 will not change the shuiiiing of decks of cards as now practiced or any steps preceding shuliling nor can the device I0 be utilized in the playing of bridge, duplicate whist, and similar card games. The device IU can be used only in the games in which the dealing can be curtailed or shortened by the labor saving step of having the shuler or dealer ldeal directly to the device I0. This plan supersedes the present two step practicevin which the dealer deals to the several players and then, in due course and sequential order, the players play their cards, often one, at a time, onto a central display board which generally is an ordinary table. The device I0 starts functioning at the stage where the dealer deals to the players or for display.

Suppose a player is engaged with solitaire and inserts live cards from the shuied deck into each of the lettered longitudinal slots, the left edge (Fig. 1) of each card being against each of the brackets I9 so that each card in each slot overlaps the preceding card. Although the player has dealt only twenty-five cards out of the deck there has actually been dealt twelve poker hands of ve cards each, that is the aggregate of the ve numbered rows, the ve lettered rows and the two diagonal rows. Before dealing, the player must elect to play one of the following six games of solitaire and the player wins if successful in dealing: A royal flush, a straight ilush, or four of a kind in any one of the twelve hands; a full house or flush into one of the two middle rows, that is transverse row 3 or longitudinal row C; at least one ace into three of the four outside rows; eleven diamonds in the lot of twenty-five cards; three kings into transverse row 1 or longitudinal row A; a full house into transverse row 2 or longitudinal row 1).

Now, in the playing of hearts, the device I 0 1s usefulin entertaining a large party of guests. For example, each oney o f iive guests may select and play one of the numbered transverse rows and seven other guests may play the ve lettered longitudinal 'and two diagonal rows. More than twelve guests may become players by joining, as partners, two or three guests to play one or more of the twelve rows. The device I0 affords good visibility so that any player may read and appraise the dealt hands. Twenty-live cards are dealt by the dealer into the twelve rows as previously explained and the hearts accruing in each row may be credited to the player or players of that row. Then, successive lots of twenty-five cards may be dealtuntil the accrual of hearts to any single player or partnership mounts up to 100, 150, or other predetermined winning number.

Using the device IU in the case of stud poker Where dealing in the usual manner consists of dealing one card face down and four cards face up in sequential order, one at a time, to each player, each one of live players may select one of the numbered rows in which the dealer will insert the face up or exposed cards by inserting the same one at a time in each of the longitudinal lettered rows A, 13, C, D, and E with the left edge of the cards against the brackets I9, the brackets being so spaced longitudinally that the cards in each longitudinal row after the transverse row l will overlap the card in the preceding numbered row. The face down or concealed card of each player may be dealt directly to the player or placed by the dealer on the supports 22 corresponding to or correlated with the numbered transverse row selected by the player and then withdrawn therefrom in due course by the player.

The second embodiment f the receiving, holding, and displaying device indicated by reference numeral 59 and shown on Figures 4 and 5 dilers from the previously mentioned first embodiment in that the brackets I9 of the first embodiment which permits the cards to be arranged in overlapping position in the numbered transverse rows have been replaced by the pins I with large heads partially inserted in the opposed ends of the upper horizontal members I4 of the card holders i3. While the pins 5l are illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 as being inserted in the edge toward the front, substantially the same result could be obtained by inserting the same in the free ends of the upper horizontal members I4. The pins separating the numbered rows may be color coded to mark the respective transverse rows while the altern-ate intervening spaces between the pins may also be color coded as shown in Figure 4 for even greater distinction. By only partially inserting the pins 5I, the edges of the cards may be inserted against the shanks of the pins and held in position by the heads.

The operation with the device 5U shown in Figures 4 and 5 is substantially the same as that given for the previously mentioned first embodiment.

The third embodiment of the receiving, holding, and displaying device designated by refererence numeral 60 in Figures 6, 7, and 8 differs from the previously mentioned rst and second embodiments chiefly in the manner of displaying and holding the cards in the vertical portion and is constituted of the end members 6| and 62 spaced parallel by the ve inverted L-shaped card holders 63 in turn spaced parallel from each other. As in the other embodiments, suitable material may be used for forming the end members and card holders which are secured together in any known manner.

The upper horizontal members 64 of the inverted L-shaped card holders 63 are in the same plane and the width of the longitudinal lettered slots (Fig. 6) is sufficient to admit of the easy insertion and withdrawal of at least one playing card held upright therein as follows: The height of the vertical members of the card holders 63 is m-ade two and one-half inches. At the bottom of each vertical member is a weighted U-shaped member 65 (Fig. 8). The Ufshaped member is constituted of two spaced upright portions and an integrally formed bottom portion and is pivotally attached to the bottom of the vertical member of the card holder with the upright portions on opposite sides of the verti-cal member. B-y placing the pivotal connection on the bottom portion adjacent the upright portion 0f the U-shaped member against the outer surface of the vertical member of the card holder, as illustrated, and weighting that upright portion, the opposite upright portion of the U-shaped member against the inner surface of the vertical member provides in conjunction with the bottom portion both a support for the cards and pressure thereagainst for conveniently maintaining the cards in a vertical position.

The construction thus far described provides the longitudinal lettered rows A, B, C, D, E, and F (Fig. 6) and the means for holding the cards vertically therein.

The transverse numbered rows 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 (Fig. 6) are formed by the rods 61 spaced parallel to each other as shown and attached to the outside card holders 63 in any known manner. The transverse numbered rows so created have a sufficient width for the insertion of one playing card in full view and, of course, not overlapping as in the rst two embodiments.

The cards are inserted in the longitudinal slots between the rods and are held upright therein when brought to rest in the bottom of the U- shaped weighted members 66 and, of course, are maintained in upright position by the pressure of the non-weighted upright portion, the top of which is bent outwardly to facilitate the insertion of the cards.

The lclips 68 are formed of spring steel or the like yand are attached at one end by the fasteners 69 to the platform lil similar to the previously described platform of the first embodiment, the clips being aligned with the numbered rows and designed for receiving the concealed cards of the players. At the back of the platform 'i0 is an upright member 'll attached thereto in any known manner and which prevents the dealt concealed cards from being inserted too far into the device.

Operation with the playing card device 6U is the same as that previously mentioned in connection with the iirst embodiment.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the exact disclosure herein described but may lend itself to a variety of expressions within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is'.

1. A playing card receiving, holding, and displaying device comprising spaced parallel end members, a plurality of spaced parallel card holders disposed between the end members, each card holder comprising a vertical member, the vertical member having a height less than the height of the cards, an upper horizontal memberl disposed at the top of the vertical member and forwardly directed therefrom and spaced from the vertical member of the preceding card holder, and means for releasably securing the cards to the inner surface of each upright member; the device further comprising a horizontal platform disposed between the end members and spaced from the bottoms of the vertical members of the card holders, means for dividing the horizontal platform into transverse rows for the concealed cards of the players, means correlated with the transverse rows of the platform for dividing the. upper horizontal members of the card holders into transverse rows for the exposed cards of the players, and means for releasably securing the device to a support.

2, A playing card receiving, holding, and displaying device comprising spaced parallel end members, a plurality of spaced parallel card holders disposed between the end members, each card holder comprising a vertical member, the vertical member having a height less than the height of the cards, an upper horizontal member disposed at the top of the vertical member and forwardly directed therefrom and spaced from the vertical member of the preceding card holder, a lower horizontal member disposed at the bottom of the vertical member and reariwardly directed therefrom, a rod for the inner surface of each vertical member, the end extremities of each rod being turned toward and secured to the inner surface of the vertical member adjacent the end members of the device with the intervening portion of the rod in spaced parallel arrangement with the vertical member, and at least one hollow roller rotatably disposed on the intervening portion of the rod with the outer surface of the roller in contact with the inner surface of the vertical member; the device further comprising a horizontal platform disposed between the end members and spaced below the -lower v horizontal members of the card holders, a plurality of L -shaped brackets disposed on the outer surface of the most forward card holder, each bracket having a stem portion and an integrally formed turned portion, the stems being larranged .1

upright with one stem adjacent one end member of the device with the remaining stems in Vparalle1 arrangement and spaced apart a distance less than the width of the cards, all of the turned portions of the stems being intermediate the .i

lower horizontal members and the horizontal platform and turned toward the opposite end member of the device and supporting the concealed cards of the players, and means correlated with the L-shaped brackets for dividing the upper horizontal members into transverse rows for the exposed cards of the players.

3. A playing card receiving, holding, and displaying device comprising spaced parallel end members, a plurality of spaced parallel cardholders disposed between the end members, eachcard holder comprising avertical member, the vertical member having a height less than the height-of the cards, an upper horizontal member disposed at the top ofthe vertical member and-forwardly directed therefrom and spaced fromithevertical member of the preceding card holder, means for releasably securing the cards to the inner surface of each card holder, a plurality of inverted L- shaped brackets disposed on the upper horizontal members, each bracket having at least a stem portion and an integrally formed turned portion, the stem portions being arranged in transverse rows spaced apart a distance less than the width of the cards and with one row adjacent one-end member of the device, all of the turned portions of the stems being in the space separating the card holders and directed toward .the opposite end member of the device for the exposed cards of the players; the device further comprising a horizontal platform disposed between the end members and spaced from the bottoms of the card holders, and means correlated with Ithe transverse rows of the upper horizontal members for dividing the horizontal platform into transverse rows for the concealed cards of theplayers.

4. A playing card receiving, holding, and displaying device comprising spaced parallel end members, a plurality of spaced parallel card holders disposed between the end members, each card holder comprising a vertical member, the vertical member having a height less than the height of the cards, an upper horizontal member disposed at the top of the vertical member and forwardly directed therefrom and spaced from the vertical member of the preceding card holder, means for releasably securing the cards to the inner surface of each card holder, a plurality of pins with large heads partially disposed in the inner edge of each upper horizontal member and dividing the upper horizontal members into transverse rows for the exposed cards of the players, one of the rows being adjacent one end member of the device and each row being spaced apart a distance less than the width of the cards; the device further comprising a horizontal platform disposed between the end members and spaced from the bottoms of the card holders, and means correlated with the transverse rows of the upper horizontal members for dividing the horizontal platform into transverse rows for the concealed hands of the players.

5. A playing card receiving, holding, and displaying device comprising spaced parallel end members, a plurality of spaced parallel card holders disposed between the end members, each card holder comprising a vertical member, the vertical member having a height less than the height of the cards, an upper horizontal member disposed at the top of the vertical member and forwardly directed therefrom, each upper horizontal member being spaced from the vertical member of the preceding card holder, a U-shaped support for the cards pivotally disposed at the bottom of each vertical member, each U-shaped support comprising two spaced upright portions and an integrally formed bottom portion, means for vpivotally securing the bottom portion to the bottom of the vertical member with the upright portions on opposite sides of the vertical member and with one upright portion adjacent the outer surface of the vertical member, and means for weighting the upright portion adjacent the outer surface of the vertical members; the device further comprising a horizontal platform disposed between the end members and spaced below the U-shaped members, a plurality of clips for the concealed cards of the players disposed on the horizontal platform, the clips being directed toward one end member and .spaced .apart a distance greater than the width of the cards, and rods correlated with the clips transversely disposed on the upper horizontal members for the exposed cards of the players.

JOHN J. HICKEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES VPATENTS Number Name v Date 532,619 White Jan. 15, 1895 1,126,470 Holland Jan. 26, 1915 1,907,544 Hoffman May 9,1933 2,066,887 Holmberg Jan. Y5, 1937 2,103,428 Lutes Dec. 28, 1937 2,513,219 Tweed June 27, 1950 

